The European Parliament has called on EU Member States to recognize the Armenian Genocide of 1915. On March 12, the European Parliament adopted the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2013 and the European Union policy on that matter, where several passages made mention of Armenia.

The most remarkable was Article 77 of the section, EU policy on international criminal justice and the International Criminal Court, which Calls, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide, on all the Member States legally to acknowledge it, and encourages the Member States and the EU institutions to contribute further to its recognition.

Additionally, Article 129 of the section, Freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, calls for the European Union and its Member States to ensure that religious minorities are respected worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, where Christians, including Catholics, Apostolic Armenians, Copts and Yezidis, and Muslim minorities are being persecuted by ISIS and other terrorist groups.

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) welcomed the resolution adopted by the European Parliament.Bedo Demirjian, EAFJD Communication & PR noted that it places human rights as a priority in all negotiations with third parties and countries. In a statement released to CivilNet, EAFJD said, We were expecting this report for a few years now, when the post of the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights was created, to advance European Union values during negotiations, be it on foreign policy, trade, energy or any other cooperation with third countries.

We unequivocally welcome and support this resolution especially in this centenary year of the Armenian Genocide, specifically paragraph 77:

Calls, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on all the Member States legally to acknowledge it, and encourages the Member States and the EU institutions to contribute further to its recognition.

We expect the EU to put pressure on Turkey, as well, to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide that it has committed.

It should also be noted, that all vulnerable groups, minorities and peoples are being protected under this resolution, which is immensely necessary in these times of racism, xenophobia, and the turmoil in the Middle East and the European Neighborhood.

European Friends of Armenia (EuFoA) also welcomed the European Parliament report. EuFoA Director, Mr Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa, said, After a long break, the European Parliament reasserts its position on the Armenian Genocide, and again reaffirms that genocides and their denials are a human rights matter. During this special year, we are thankful for this strong signal of European solidarity with the Armenian people. Ochoa went on to say, In practical terms it means that the European Parliament does not want the EU to compromise its stance on human rights, democracy and rule of law when dealing with third countries.

The report was prepared by the European Parliaments Committee on Foreign Affairs and adopted at the committee level on February 9. The rapporteur of the report was Member of European Parliament Pier Antonio Panzeri (SD, Italy).

EAFJD URGES EU TO PUT PRESSURE ON TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

19:03, 12 Mar 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD)
has welcomed the resolution adopted today by the European Parliament,
which puts Human Rights on top of almost all negotiations with third
parties and countries.

"We were expecting this report since a few years now, when the post of
the European Union Special Representative for Human Rights was created,
to advance European Union values during negotiations, be it on foreign
policy, trade, energy or any other cooperation with third countries,"
EAFJD said in a statement.

"We unequivocally welcome and support this resolution, especially in
this centenary year of the Armenian Genocide, specifically paragraph
77, which "Calls, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide, on all the Member States legally to acknowledge it, and
encourages the Member States and the EU institutions to contribute
further to its recognition." We expect the EU to put pressure on
Turkey, as well, to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide that
it has committed," the statement reads.

"It should also be noted, that all vulnerable groups, minorities and
peoples are being protected under this resolution, which is immensely
necessary in these times of racism, xenophobia, and the turmoil in
the Middle East, the European Neighborhood and the World as a whole,"
EAFJD said.

The European Parliament has called on EU member states to recognize
the mass killings of Armenians in 1915 as genocide.

The EP adopted the Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in
the World 2013 and the EU policy on the matter on March 12.

Article 77 of the adopted report "calls, ahead of the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, on all the member states to
legally acknowledge it, and encourages the member states and the EU
institutions to contribute further to its recognition."

Armenia says up to 1.5 million Ottoman Armenians were killed in a
genocide starting in 1915. Turkey denies that the deaths amounted
to genocide, saying the death toll of Armenians killed during mass
deportations has been inflated and that those killed in 1915 and 1916
were victims of general unrest during World War I.

The latest report is approved by a majority of votes at the European
Parliament, which had recognized the events as genocide in 1987.

Around 20 countries have taken a similar position on the issue so far.

The center-right European People's Party (EPP) and far-rightists,
including the French politician Marine Le Pen, have recently been
calling on member states to recognize the 1915 events as genocide.